December 25, 2013 12:48:54 am
More than 96 per cent railway employees affiliated to the largest trade union in the national transporter have favoured a crippling chakka jam to pressure the government on their demands.
The strike could be called before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls if the government does not heed the 36-point demands of the union,said All India Railwaymens Federation (AIRF) after releasing the result of the Strike Ballot which took place at all the zonal railways and production units over the weekend. If the government and the Railway Ministry do not fulfil our main demands,we will have no option but to declare strike during February-March next year, said AIRF general secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra.
The Strike Ballot saw the participation of over 10 lakh employees. It would cost about Rs 800 crore if the movement of trains comes to halt for a day.
Emboldened by the response,the National Federation of All Indian Railwaymen which is affiliated to the Congresss trade union wing,has now also decided to call for Strike Ballot. Together,the two unions represent all the staff of the Indian Railways.
One of the main demands of the unions is scrapping the new pension scheme and jobs for wards of pensioners.
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